Cha Eun-woo of ASTRO is under investigation for tax evasion, with his agency Fantagio also facing significant tax penalties.
January/29/2026 11:41Related Groups & Members
Cha Eun-woo of ASTRO is suspected of tax evasion amounting to 20 billion won (about 2 billion yen). In this process, his agency Fantagio has reportedly received a tax reassessment of 8.5 billion won (about 912 million yen) from the National Tax Agency. Last year, Cha Eun-woo was investigated for tax evasion by the Seoul Regional Tax Office. The National Tax Agency is said to have notified him of a tax reassessment exceeding 20 billion won, which is the largest amount ever imposed on a celebrity. During this process, the National Tax Agency judged that Fantagio also received undue tax benefits through transactions with Cha Eun-woo's personal corporation and imposed a tax reassessment of 8.5 billion won. Fantagio incurred an additional 10% settlement fee in the name of value-added tax during the payment process through Cha Eun-woo's corporation, and the National Tax Agency believes that Fantagio may have benefited from value-added tax refunds. While Fantagio can claim the tax reassessment related to the 20 billion won tax evasion allegations against Cha Eun-woo, it is viewed as not easy in reality due to Cha Eun-woo's significant presence within Fantagio. It is said that a large portion of Fantagio's revenue is generated through management contracts with Cha Eun-woo, making it likely that Fantagio will bear the tax reassessment. Prior to this, on the 22nd of this month, Fantagio released an official comment stating, "The main point of contention in this matter is whether the corporation established by Cha Eun-woo's mother is subject to substantial taxation, and this is not yet a finalized or announced case. We plan to actively explain the issues regarding legal interpretation and application in accordance with proper procedures." Following this, on the 26th, Cha Eun-woo posted an apology on his Instagram, stating, "Currently, I am serving in the military, but it was never my intention to avoid this controversy. Last year, I reached a point where I could no longer postpone my enlistment and had to enlist without completing the tax investigation process. I want to sincerely approach the ongoing tax-related procedures. When the final judgment is made by the relevant authorities, I will humbly accept the results and fulfill my responsibilities." Regarding reports that he appointed the law firm Sejong, Fantagio commented, "We cannot confirm this." Furthermore, on the 27th, Fantagio issued another official comment, stating, "We feel a heavy responsibility regarding the discussions arising from matters related to our company and affiliated artists. The current matter is in the stage of confirming the facts in accordance with the tax authorities' procedures, and both the agency and the artist are responding sincerely to the investigation as necessary." They continued, "In the future, if legal and administrative judgments become clear, we will responsibly implement necessary measures based on the results. However, we sincerely request that speculation and unverified information regarding some of the claims and allegations raised be refrained from excessive interpretation."
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The Korean Taxpayer Alliance has defended ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo regarding a tax evasion allegation of approximately 20 billion won, arguing that presumption of innocence should be upheld. They criticized media assumptions about his mother's company being a shell corporation and highlighted the importance of taxpayer rights and proper legal processes.
ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo is under investigation for alleged tax evasion amounting to 20 billion won. His agency, Fantagio, confirmed a tax reassessment of 8.2 billion won, correcting earlier reports. Fantagio stated the main issue is whether a corporation established by Cha's mother is subject to taxation and plans to clarify legal interpretations while ensuring proper management of their artists moving forward.
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